Skirt-supporter.



No. 719,656. PATENTED FEB. 3, 1903.

" J. H. GRISWOLD.

SKIRT SUPPORTER.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 30, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

JOHN H. GRISWOLD, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

SKlRT-SUPPORTER.

l SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 719,656, dated February 3, 1903.

Application filed July 30,1902. Serial No. 117,702. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN H. GRISWOLD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, county of Alameda, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Skirt-Supporters; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in garment-supporting devices ofthe type adapted to be engaged in the folds of a dress to hold the latter up. Its object is to provide a simple, artistic, economically-constructed holder which can be quickly engaged with or disengaged from the skirt and which will not tear or otherwise injure the finest fabric.

It consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts hereinafter to be set forth, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of my device. Fig. 2 is a modification of the same. Fig. 3 is a view of the device with loops at each end of handle.

A represents a tubular handle incasing the ends of a spring-wire which has previously been bent or coiled to form a loop or circular jaw member 2. One end of the wire is made fast within the tube, while the other end, as 3, is freely slidable therein for the purpose of afiording sufficient resiliency. The coiledspring character of the wire prevents the end 3 from being entirely withdrawn by any strain likely to be put upon the holder. The portions 4 of the wire emerging from the tube are oppositely curved and cross each other at a point opposite the handle to form the loop 2. The widest distance between the portions I is less than the diameter of the loop, and the jaws 4 and 2 are adapted always to press close against each other. If desired, the wire may extend through the tube and a second loop be formed on the opposite end of the handle, as in Fig. 3. In this case both ends of the wire would be freely slidable in the tube. The fabric is engaged by passing a fold between the loop 2 and the forks 4, the loop and forks forming jaws to grip the cloth and the loop affording an extended curved bearing to support the overhanging portion of the cloth.

In application one end of the holder may be attached by one of its ends to the belt or an upper fold of the dress and the other end engaged in a lower fold, so that the skirt may be shortened or lifted, as desired.

By reason of the curved supporting and gripping jaw, the resilient character of the holder, due to the movement of the free ends of the wire in the handle, and the absence of sharp points all danger of injury to the fabr'ic is obviated.

In Fig. 2 the wire is formed with the forks, as before described, and the forks diverge in straight lines to their outer ends, said ends thence being returned to form a curved loop, which is essentially the same in operation as the loop of Figs. 1 and 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv 1. A skirt-holder comprising a tubular handle portion, a wire looped to form clampingjaws, the ends of said wire incased in said handle, and one of said ends having a sliding movement in relation to the handle for the purpose set forth;

2. A skirt-holder comprising a wire bent upon itself at two points in its length to form clamp members to engage separate folds of a dress, and a tubular handle incasing said wire intermediate of said clamp members.

3. A skirt-holder comprising a tubular handle, a wire passingtherethrough and bent to form clamp members at each end thereof, in which members the folds of a dress are adapted to be engaged substantially as described, the ends of said wire incased Within the handle and having a sliding movement therein, whereby said clamp members may have a limited movement to and from each other.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN H. GRISWOLD.

Witnesses:

S. H. NoURsE, JESSIE O. BRODIE. 

